Battle of Yorktown
1781 CE · Virginia, USA
The Battle of Yorktown was fought in 1781 CE in Virginia, USA between United States and France vs Great Britain; decisive Franco-American victory; Cornwallis surrendered and the war was effectively won.
Battle of Yorktown: quick facts
- Date
- 1781 CE
- Location
- Virginia, USA
- Belligerents
- United States and France vs Great Britain
- Commanders
- George Washington and the Comte de Rochambeau vs Charles Cornwallis
- Result
- decisive Franco-American victory; Cornwallis surrendered and the war was effectively won.
- Era
- 🦅 American Wars
- Quiz difficulty
- medium
What happened at the Battle of Yorktown?
George Washington's Continental Army and French forces under Rochambeau besieged British General Cornwallis at Yorktown while the French navy blocked any escape by sea. After weeks of bombardment, Cornwallis surrendered his army of over 7,000 men. The defeat shattered British will to continue the war, leading to peace negotiations and American independence.
Did you know?
When Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, his band reportedly played a tune called 'The World Turned Upside Down.' Cornwallis himself was too humiliated to attend the ceremony and sent a subordinate.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of Yorktown on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.